Septic tank



Aug. 19, 1952 M. s. BUTLER 2,607,727

sEPTic TANK Filed June 1o, 1947 l :s Sheng-sheet 2 7.,- A I III'III' I I I v I l I I I I I v I I I I I I I g .A e s 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 M. s. BUTLER SEPTIC TANK Aug. 19, 1952 Filed June lov, 1947 Patented Aug. 19, 1952 `siir'rrc TANK i l Milton S. Butler, South Braintree; Mass.

appneatn Juneio, 1947, serial No. resa-2s Y' f- This invention relates to tanks for sewage disposal and especially to a tank of this type in which a plurality cf'slabsor 'blocks of a material such as concrete are arranged in interlocking relation to form the'sides of the tank-body and other related drainage structures.

Septic tanks, cesspools andsimilar devices for sewage disposal are subject to overiiow and failure and in most. cases may be used for a limited time only before they require cleaning. A common difficulty especially in septic tanks is the tendency for clogging or stoppage to occur around the baille plate employed in these devices. When this occurs in a closed tank, sewage backs up in the inlet pipe, requiring troublesome and expensive repairs.

The device of the present invention avoids the difculties noted to a large extent by eliminating the use of baffle plates; by utilizing a greater soil drainage area; and by constantly providing for a reserve drainage area to 'which access may be had whenever it is found necessary. With this arrangement, sewage tank facilities are made possible of exceedingly long life, and substantial savings in the cost of material and installation are achieved. An important feature in this connection is the combination with an open bottom tank structure of a plurality of laterally extending drain chambers which are connected to a common outlet by separate conduits, each of which has its extremity extending into a respective chamber. The tops of the drain chambers are removable at points directly above the ex tremities of the conduits. Coacting with the covers is a plug member which is removably secured in one conduit extremity and interchangeable with the other conduit extremity. This arrangement provides for one of the drains constantly being held out of operation in reserve for a further use when needed. Another feature of the invention is a special slab element construction from which sidewalls may be made up. Some or all of the slab elements may include separator members formed therein so that a separation of solid material from liquid may be eiected, with the result that ythe conventional baflie plate of a septic tank is eliminated. n

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a novel type of inlet pipe which is combined with the sectional tank in such a manner as to provide for installation at varying angles. The inlet pipe isk further formed with a special removable cleanout capr which greatly facilitates clearing inlet pipes and sewage conduits running 2 claims. (ci. zio-6) y 2 ;1 between the vtank andthe start .of the 4conduit lines, or at other points. :'These Aandother novel ,features and kobjects of the invention rwill -appear from-.the following discussion. 'f

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l isa perspective viewjllustrating 4frame members utilized in formingf'the tanksfof the invention; f5

Fig. 2 is another perspective vvieweshowing .a section of a tank partly assembled .on the frame member; Y

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sewage Atanker the invention; f

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section;

Fig. 5 is a detail view 'of laterally extending drain means;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view -of anfinlet pipe employed with the tank of 'theinventiom Fig. 7 is a detail plan Vlew 1 Fig. 8 is a perspective .view-"othespecial slab Yconstruction utilized in forming the tank 'offthe invention; and

Fig. `9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a slab.

Referring more in detail A'to the drawings,

numerals I0, l2, I4, I6, I8; 20 `indicate frame elements which may be arranged in the manner suggested in Fig. 1, vto constitute a base for the remainder of the tank structure rof the invention. The frame elements are designed to be laid directly in atan'k opening which has been dug in the earth to leave an open bottom area 22. Upon the frame members, snugly fitted agaist the raised inner edges thereof, are mounted upright yslabs of concrete or other material, such as noted by numeral 24. The slabs are preferably braced apart by means of transverse vme;m bers 25 and longitudinal members 25a. As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the slabs arevformed with opposite upper shouldered portions on which the transverse members are received. The transverse members are in turn formed with upper relieved ends on whichvare supported thev longitudinal members 25a asshown in Fig. 2. The longitudinal members lie against adjacent slabs and are chosenV of a width .or 4`thickness which allows them to` projectabove the upper edges of the slabs and thus provide vertical supporting edges for receiving thereaginst the lower portions of the next row of. overlapping slabs. Fig. 2 indicates the use of thev slabsrto form a tank of any desired height, by .superimposing` the slabs one upon another. Similarlyv theymay be used in larger numbers to buildtanks of varying widths and lengths.

In Figs. 3 and 4, are indicated a plan view and a vertical cross sectional view respectively of a tank including two tiers of slabs mounted one upon the other, with there being employed four of the slabs 24 in each tier. Located above these slabs are cover members 26, one of which may be formed with an opening 28 in which is arranged an inlet pipe 30, preferably of a square cross section, such as may be formed bycasting or molding cementitious materials. The inlet pipe is of a size less than the diameter of the opening 28 so that when installed it may be swung about into any position of angularity which may be found necessary to avoid stones, ledges, or other obstacles in installing the tank at a desired point. After a suitable position for the inlet pipe has been determined, it can be xed in place by inserting cement or other material between itself and the edges of the opening 28, and such packing or sealing materials can be removed at such times as it may be found necessary to remove the inlet pipe and the cover.

Numeral 32 denotes a Yremovable cleanout cap of triangular shape, more 4clearly shown in Fig. 6, which constitutes asection of the corner of the pipe 30. This arrangement provides-:ready accessibility to openings 34 and 36 (Figc 6) of the two sections of pipe 30, where `itmay be desired to remove'obstructions from either of these pipe sections. The cap 32 may, if desired, be detachably secured by means of a pin 42 which is passed through openings 43 and 46 in the pipe and opening 44 in the cap. To further secure the cap in place, I have provided a recessed shoulder 48 upon which a correspondingly recessed edge of the cap may be disposed. It is pointed out that withl an inlet pipe of this character. it is entirely vfeasible inthe event of a clogged sewerage system, to overcome Vthe diiiiculty at once lsimply by digging up the cover, removing the cap and inserting a wire element through the pipe 30. Thus a great deal of unnecessary labor may be avoided. VThe cap also may be employed with an outlet pipe 66 o n the opposite side of the tank.

Sewage enters the tank fromr the pipe 30 and passes down into the bottom of the tank, rising to a level where it passes out through the sides of the slab members 24and eventually discharges from the outlet pipe `60. Passage of sewage through the side walls is provided for by separator members 50 which constitute inner and outer conduits through which sewage may pass to the soil surrounding the slabs 24. By this arrangement, the use lof a conventional baffle plate can be avoided since movement of solids is restricted by the inner conduit, and liquids are dissipated through the outer conduit and the open base of the tank.

It will be noted that each separator is formed with a closed upper inner side 52, and a closed upper outer side 54. ,The-latter affords protection against soil entering the separator `and blocking the passageway, while the former maintains the bacteria mat out of communication with the opening through the slab. It will also be observed that openings 55 in the side of the outer conduits 50Vare below the openingsil vin the intermediate slab portion, so that a bale effect is thus securedby each separator. The use of the separator element may be desired in all of the slabs or only a part of the slabs may be so equipped, and provides access to surrounding soil regions thus increasing the seepage area to a very great extent.

Figs. 3 and 4. illustrate a two-way conduit member 58 which connects with the outlet pipe 60 inserted into the tank. The two-way conduit has two outer extremities 62 and 64 which communicate with drainage chambers 6B and 68, also made up of interlocking slabs 65 such as those shown in Fig. 5. It is intended that these slabs also may have separator elements. Fitted in the extremity 64 is a plug member 10 which is adapted to be removed at such time as the drainage chamber 66 has become filled. The plug at this time is removed from the empty chamber 68 and inserted in the conduit end 62, preventing further flow into this area while opening a passageway into the alternate chamber'68. Each chamber is equipped with removable covers to facilitate the interchange of the plug 10. Alternating the plug can be repeated as many times as desired to continually maintain a relatively free drainage area to which the tank is connected.

The alternate chamber feature, when combined with the slabs having separator elements, provides an exceedingly long-life sewerage system by which sudden overloads may be handled satisfactorily with an unusually large seepage area being contacted.

I claim:

l.` An improved sectional type sewage tank construction for use in a sewage excavation, comprising a tank body having vertical side walls and end walls extending therebetween, said side and end walls adapted to be located against the vertical surfaces of the sewage excavation and to be externally supported thereby, said side walls including a plurality of courses of preformed slab elements located one above another, the slab elements of each course being arranged in an upright position with adjacent vertical edges lying in abutting relationship, each of said slab elements of the said side walls being formed with upper rabbeted corners, a plurality of transverse brace members constructed and arranged so as to extend between the sides of the tank and supported on the rabbeted corners of said side Wall slab elements, each of said transverse brace members being rabbeted to form relieved ends and intermediate shoulders which project above the relieved ends, said transverse brace shoulders occurring in spaced relation to inner wall surfaces of the tank to vdenne slots, a plurality of longitudinal brace members mounted in the slots ony the relieved portions of the transverse brace members and snugly received between the side wall slabs and the transverse brace shoulders to hold these members in locked relationshiprto one another, said braces at their outer surfaces constituting retaining edges against which succeeding' courses of said side wall slabs may be laterally supported, said tank structure further including inlet pipe means connectedY to the tank, said inlet pipe consisting of a unitary member which includes two conduit sections meeting one another at an angle, the unitary member further presenting a corner section angularly disposed yand adjustably secured at the junction of the two conduit sections, the corner section when separated from the adjoining inlet pipe portions providing an aperture which communicates witho'penings of both conduit sections.

2. An improved sectional. type, sewage tank construction for use ina sewage excavation, comprising a tank body having vertical side walls and end-walls extendingk therebetween.

said side and end walls adapted to be located against the vertical surfaces of the sewage excavation and to be externally supported thereby, said side walls including a plurality of courses of preformed slab elements located one above another, the slab elements of each course being arranged in an upright position with adjacent vertical edges lying in abutting relationship, each of said slab elements of the said side walls being formed with upper rabbeted corners, a plurality of transverse brace members constructed and arranged so as to extend between the sides of the tank and supported on the rabbeted corners of said side walls slab elements, each of said transverse brace members being rabbeted to form relieved ends and intermediate shoulders which project above the relieved ends, said transverse brace shoulders occurring in spaced relation to inner wall surfaces of the tank to dene slots, a plurality of longitudinal brace members mounted in the slots on the relieved portions of the transverse brace members and snugly received between the side wall slabs and the transverse brace shoulders to hold these members in locked relationship to one another,said braces at their outer surfaces constituting retaining edges against which succeeding courses of said side wall slabs may be laterally supported, said tank structure further including a base having inner retaining edges for supporting the bottom portions of said side walls, a cover including horizontally disposed slabs received on the side Walls, inlet and outlet pipes connected to the tank construction, said outlet pipe including a dual conduit, drain members 6 connected to the extremities of the dual coduit, and an interchangeable plug member adjustably secured in one of the dual conduits.

MILTON S. BUTLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 665,462 Peek Jan. 8, 1901 770,490 Alvord Sept. 20, 1904 1,058,458 Payne et al. Apr. 8, 1913 1,105,145 Kennedy July 28, 1914 1,177,075 Weston Mar. 28, 1916 1,204,534 Andrews Nov. 14, 1916 1,557,523 Hahn Oct. 13, 1925 1,795,123 Harris Mar. 3, 1931 1,812,401 Goulding June 30, 1931 1,820,596 Brown Aug. 25, 1931 1,902,171 Kopp Mar. 21, 1933 2,069,058 Davis Jan. 26, 1937 2,367,270 Evans et al Jan. 16, 1945 2,378,616 Burgett June 19, 1945 2,384,994 Gutman et al Sept. 18, 1945 2,412,785 Torricelli Dec. 17, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 566,281 France Nov. 20, 1923 539,371 Great Britain Sept. 8, 1941 OTHER REFERENCES Babbitt: Sewerage and Sewage Treatment, 6th

edition, 1947, pp. 207-210. 

1. AN IMPROVED SECTIONAL TYPE SEWAGE TANK CONSTRUCTION FOR USE IN A SEWAGE EXCAVATION, COMPRISING A TANK BODY HAVING VERTICAL SIDE WALLS AND END WALLS EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, SAID SIDE AND END WALLS ADAPTED TO BE LOCATED AGAINST THE VERTICAL SURFACES OF THE SEWAGE EXCAVATION AND TO BE EXTERNALLY SUPPORTED THEREBY, SAID SIDE WALLS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF COURSES OF PREFORMED SLAB ELEMENTS LOCATED ONE ABOVE ANOTHER, THE SLAB ELEMENTS OF EACH COURSE BEING ARRANGED IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITH ADJACENT VERTICAL EDGES LYING IN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP, EACH OF SAID SLAB ELEMENTS OF THE SAID SIDE WALLS BEING FORMED WITH UPPER RABBETED CORNERS, A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSE BRACE MEMBERS CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED SO AS TO EXTEND BETWEEN THE SIDES OF THE TANK AND SUPPORTED ON THE RUBBETED CORNERS OF SAID SIDE WALL SLAB ELEMENTS, EACH OF SAID TRANSVERSE BRACE MEMBERS BEING RABBETED TO FORM RELIEVED ENDS AND INTERMEDIATE SHOULDERS WHICH PROJECT ABOVE THE RELIEVED ENDS, SAID TRANSVERSE BRACE SHOULDERS OCCURING IN SPACED RELATION TO INNER WALL SURFACES OF THE TANK TO DEFINE SLOTS, A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL BRACE MEMBERS MOUNTED IN THE SLOTS ON THE RELIEVED PORTIONS OF THE TRANSVERSE BRACE MEMBERS AND SNUGLY RECEIVED BETWEEN THE SIDE WALL SLABS AND THE TRANSVERSE BRACE SHOULDERS TO HOLD THESE MEMBERS IN LOCKED RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID BRACES AT THEIR OUTER SURFACES CONSTITUTING RETAINING EDGES AGAINST WHICH SUCCEEDING COURSES OF SAID SIDE WALL SLABS MAY BE LATERALLY SUPPORTED, SAID TANK STRUCTURE FURTHER INCLUDING INLET PIPE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE TANK, SAID INLET PIPE CONSISTING OF A UNITARY MEMBER WHICH INCLUDES TWO CONDUIT SECTIONS MEETING ONE ANOTHER AT AN ANGLE, THE UNITARY MEMBER FURTHER PRESENTING A CORNER SECTION ANGULARLY DISPOSED AND ADJUSTABLY SECURED AT THE JUNCTION OF THE TWO CONDUIT SECTIONS, THE CORNER SECTION WHEN SEPARATED FROM THE ADJOINING INLET PIPE PORTIONS PROVIDING AN APERTURE WHICH COMMUNICATES WITH OPENINGS OF BOTH CONDUIT SECTIONS. 